Transgender Defendant Gets 6+ Years In Prison For Plot To Kill Bessent
16 hours ago
A transgender woman who admitted traveling to Washington with a knife and Molotov cocktails in a plot targeting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison.
Riley Jane English, also identified in court records as Ryan Michael English, was sentenced Tuesday to 73 months behind bars.
Prosecutors had requested a sentence of at least 10 years.
English pleaded guilty in March to federal weapons and explosives charges after traveling from Massachusetts to the Washington area on January 27, 2025.
According to prosecutors, English was inspired by the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and initially considered targeting a government official or burning down a Washington think tank.
English ultimately focused on Bessent, who was being confirmed as Treasury secretary that day.
The Justice Department said English had been planning the attack for some time before traveling to Washington.
Riley Jane English, also identified in court records as Ryan Michael English, was sentenced Tuesday to 73 months behind bars.
Prosecutors had requested a sentence of at least 10 years.
English pleaded guilty in March to federal weapons and explosives charges after traveling from Massachusetts to the Washington area on January 27, 2025.
According to prosecutors, English was inspired by the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and initially considered targeting a government official or burning down a Washington think tank.
English ultimately focused on Bessent, who was being confirmed as Treasury secretary that day.
The Justice Department said English had been planning the attack for some time before traveling to Washington.
